The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-06-26
PASSAIC RIVER WATER.
THE MIXTURE DRUNK NJ NEWARK
AND JERSEY CITY PEOPLE


Net Hmu,ediato-Rich and Poor nre
Impatientiy Waiting fer Change.
The subject Of water supply ls agitating
the people Of Newark. They have been slow
in awakening to that primo necessity OF their
beautiful city. They have been proud OF their
river with It's numerous factories strung all
along its banks from Pnssaic to Jersey City,
and confident. from what eminent chemists
havo told tham. In It's powers Of purifying its
own waters. The local newspapers and The
Bun stirred up the citizens on tho subject several
months ago. Long before that time, however.
the Aaueduot Board was silently acting in the
matter. The spirit OF speculation, however.
had seen tho needs OF Newark. Jersey City. and
all the towns along the banks OF the Passaic,
and fastened to avail itself Of It's opportuni-
ties The lands above tho falls Of the Passaic,
the water sheds Of that river and Of the Rama
20 and ningwood Rivers, are already in the
possession of one or moro syndicates So. ut
lenst. It was said at the office OF the Newark
Aaueduct Board yesterday. In answer to the
question. what do YOU propose to doP" MIR.
Greathead. the Secretary OF tho Board, said:
"We do not know precisely what we are 60
ing to do. Next fall we hope to have the matter
settled by municipal vote and by legislation"
Mr.. George r. Gray. the Superintendent Of
tho Board, made the following statement:
This Board has received from New York
gentleman, representing syndicate, propo-
sition to furnish tho city OF Newark with water
at the price Of 5000 per million gallons. New
ark consumes at present about 100000 gal
Ions Of water per day. II the city should mako
a contract with this syndicate 1t would have to
pay $l83, 192. 80 for water the first year. and
each year tho amount would increase 3,322.5o,
II Newark continues to grow ut its present rate
Of increase in population. In twenty years
tho city would have paid millions OF dollars for
wator and would not own any water plant OF
it's own. Tho Aqueduct Board. after careful
consideration OF the proposition OF this syndi-
This city proposes to build its own works at u
cost of about $4.000000 At tho end of twenty
years ut much less outlay than Is proposed
by tho syndicate, Newark will own its own
Through all this long summer, therefore.
and probably for moro than another year, the
Nswarkers who cannot afford to buy Poland
hygeia. distilled, or some other waters more or
less must drmk nv water bv as
process or another in their own houses;
That the, present water supply Of Newark
various sources which cannot be controlled by
the Aquedqet Boards OF those eities is Ger or.
that is mingled with that OF the ocean to a
point reaching far abo1e Newark, and which
pushes back tho sewerage discharged from the
the polluted water from It's factories TO u point
above the Jersey City intake of water though
SHts fbs intake ana oScG Wss IS
from ai tho towns above the Newark intpke
are mingled in one FORM or another , certainly
past that intake. That the polluted waters
from the sewers OF, Paterson. the :, drains
Guiding u i''f those from tho mains empty
s e se and and SfhG es YsFs ss9s
and summer residences. are purified, or that
the water pnrites itself" as some Of the POO,
taxes to 10
even not h the obset Of this to
hs act IN the
The population OF Newark. nearly 200, 900. is
composed largely Of people who are engaged
m % o. OF New on
tho Srs sdsGs that snsss The sWn t f
sweils OF land between Newark and the 81 ango
Mountain: From Mount Prospect ~, Park avenue
Sosn sdG the Western horizon whe the waters
81 o sSsr M
nificent residences OF Newark wealthiest citi-
here arc Pe pnrE in
BRICK and stone and a larger one, perhaps,
dence in America. Even the Wander
Bit houses In New York are dwurfed
VioWs from It's its Hundred Or more, windows
~ the Xii i" or ridge on which Il is built, on
Mount Prospect Park avenue. winds the Pas
sale. Tho Wooded heights OF Kearney, crowned
sIsn with n castle. are on the further bank,
and the mills Of the Clarks and another great
fhraad mil n Scotch ulant in which tho
Ciaris are Interested are on either sido of the
Fonr or 1--we thousand Operatives work in those
mills. They form a community of themselves
that nre the speoai care. pride, and pIensuro
~ The Glarks They live IN comfortrble and
nretty cottages. have their own libraries,
societies ciISs and amusements. in ali OF
Which tie Giarks take tho iiveiiest interest
and hannv' They ali probably, drink Passaic
River Water One thing is certain, they cannot
Ant h Ia 10 he Roped tbnt thew may keep'on the
safe side as far az possible, and boil their
SriNkin1 water and mt hsif,burnod Goals or
Charcoal in their water jars as large numbers
HIsh street is another avenue Where the
bomss ~ The weaIthv are found its most